Fuel pump cutoff shuttle valve

Abstract

A fuel pump cutoff shuttle valve is located between a multiple fuel pump arrangement. The valve has a first tubular member with a hollow, biased sliding member inside that moves according to the fuel pressures of the pumps. The fuel that flows through the valve member passes out through a valve member central orifice so that the fuel can flow into the second tubular member en route to an engine. When the fuel pressure in a pump greatly exceeds that of another pump on the opposite side of the valve member, the valve member moves and places the valve member central orifice adjacent to the interior wall of the first tubular member, stopping the flow of fuel. Alternatively, the valve member may have an orifice at each end of the valve member to permit a reduced flow of fuel to the engine when fuel is not supplied by the central orifice.

1. An apparatus for passing fluid comprising:
 a first tubular member; 
 a second tubular member, said second tubular member being connected to said first tubular member such that said second tubular member defines a first side of said first tubular member and a second side of said first tubular member and permits fluid communication between said first tubular member and said second tubular member; 
 a valve member located within said first tubular member, said valve member defining a through passage for transporting fluid within said valve member and said first tubular member, wherein 
 said valve member moves according to a fluid pressure on a first end of said valve member and a fluid pressure on a second end of said valve member and directs the flow of fluid according to such pressure. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first biasing member that biases against said first end of said valve member; and 
 a second biasing member that biases against said second end of said valve member, wherein said first and said second biasing members center said valve member relative to said second tubular member. 
 
   
   
     3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first end of said valve member encompasses a portion of said first biasing member. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said second end of said valve member encompasses a portion of said second biasing member. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member defines an orifice, said valve member orifice permitting fluid to flow from said first tubular member to said second tubular member. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member orifice is located proximate to said second tubular member. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve member moves perpendicularly to said second tubular member. 
   
   
     8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising:
 a first collar portion located at said first end; and 
 a second collar portion located at said second end. 
 
   
   
     9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein when said first collar portion is within said second side of said first tubular member, said valve member orifice directs fuel toward said first tubular member wall preventing fuel flow from said valve member orifice. 
   
   
     10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said first collar portion defines a first collar orifice. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said second collar portion defines a second collar orifice. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein when a portion of said first collar portion is within said second side of said first tubular member, fuel flows from said first collar orifice to said second tubular member. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein when a portion of said second collar portion is within said first side of said first tubular member, fuel flows from said second collar orifice to said second tubular member. 
   
   
     14. A fuel pump shuttle valve comprising:
 a first tubular member containing a movable cylindrical valve member, said cylindrical valve member defining a through passage in said valve member's longitudinal direction and defining a valve member orifice perpendicular to said valve member's longitudinal direction to permit fluid to pass from said through passage to said valve member orifice; 
 second tubular member directly connected to and dividing said first tubular member into a first side and a second side such that said second tubular member receives fluid from said first side and said second side of said first tubular member; 
 first biasing member that applies force against a first end of said cylindrical valve member to bias said cylindrical valve member in a first direction; and 
 second biasing member that applies force against a second end of said cylindrical valve member to bias said cylindrical valve member in a second direction, said second direction opposite to said first direction, 
 wherein said cylindrical valve member slides against an inner wall surface within said first tubular member, said cylindrical valve member longitudinally positioned within said first tubular member according to a fluid pressure acting at said first end, a fluid pressure acting at said second end, and forces from said first and second biasing members. 
 
   
   
     15. The fuel pump shuttle valve of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a raised first collar at said first end of said cylindrical valve member, said raised first collar in contact with said first side of said first tubular member; and 
 a raised second collar at said second end of said cylindrical valve member, said raised second collar in contact with said second side of said first tubular member. 
 
   
   
     16. The fuel pump shuttle valve of  claim 15 , wherein
 when said first collar portion and said second collar portion are both on said first side of said first tubular member, said first tubular member does not transmit fluid to said second tubular member. 
 
   
   
     17. The fuel pump shuttle valve of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first collar orifice defined in said first collar portion to permit fluid transfer between said first tubular member and said second tubular member, when said valve member orifice is positioned toward said inner wall of said first tubular member. 
 
   
   
     18. A fuel delivery system comprising:
 an engine; 
 a fuel line that delivers fuel to said engine after passing through a fuel rail; 
 a fuel tank containing a first fuel pump and a second fuel pump, said first fuel pump situated on a first side of a T-joint and delivers fuel to said T-joint from said first side of said T-joint, and said second fuel pump is situated on a second side of said T-joint and delivers fuel to said T-joint from said second side of said T-joint, said T-joint comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, said second tubular member fluidly connected to said fuel line; and 
 a hollow valve member situated within said first tubular member and defining a valve member orifice at a central portion of said hollow valve member, said valve member orifice passing fuel from said hollow valve member to said second tubular member, wherein said hollow valve member is slidable within said first tubular member. 
 
   
   
     19. The fuel delivery system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first biasing member residing partially within a first end of said hollow valve member; and 
 a second biasing member residing partially within a second end of said hollow valve member, 
 wherein said first and second biasing members position said hollow valve member such that the longitudinal axis of said second tubular member equally divides said hollow valve member. 
 
   
   
     20. The fuel delivery system of  claim 18 , wherein a central portion of said hollow valve member is smaller in outside diameter than end outside diameters of said hollow valve member.